OGTR PC1 and PC2 Facility Certifications

What facilities require OGTR certification?An OGTR certified facility is required for all NLRD and DNIR projects. A small proportion of NLRD projects can be conducted in a certified PC1 facility while most require a certified PC2 facility. All DNIR projects must be undertaken in a certified PC2 facility. Projects must not commence until a certified facility is available for the work to be undertaken in and the project has been approved in writing by the IBC

How do I know if a certified PC1 or PC2 facility is required for an NLRD?Part 4 of the NLRD application dictates whether an NLRD will be required to be undertaken in a certified PC1 or certified PC2 facility. Projects falling under Part 1 – item 1.1 are classified as PC1 NLRDs and can be undertaken in a certified PC1 facility. Projects falling under Part 2 – item 2.1 are classified as PC2 NLRDs and must be undertaken in a certified PC2 facility. Projects requiring PC1 certification can be undertaken in a certified PC1 or PC2 facility. Projects requiring PC2 certification can only be undertaken in a certified PC2 facility.

How do I get my facility certified?In order to have your facility certified you must first refer to the relevant OGTR Certification Guidelines and ensure that your facility complies with all of the relevant requirements. You then need to contact the University’s Biosafety Advisor to arrange a time for inspection of your facility.

Once the inspection has been completed the application form (prepared by the Biosafety Advisor) is sent to the University’s DVC (Research) for sign off and is then forwarded to the OGTR for processing. Once the application has been received by the OGTR it can take up to 90 working days for the OGTR to process the application and grant certification. More commonly however, it takes approximately 6-8 weeks for the OGTR to grant certification.

NB. The initiation of the certification process is dependant on a project application having been submitted to the IBC that requires a certified PC1 or PC2 facility. No facility will be certified without an associated project either submitted or approved by the IBC that requires a certified facility.

How do I obtain the OGTR PC1 or PC2 facility stickers?Once the OGTR has procssed an application and granted certification for a facility, the OGTR will provide you with enough certification stickers to display one sticker on each entrance door to the facility.

Please note that an OGTR issued PC2 sticker is completely separate from the "PC2 Microbiological Laboratory" signage required for facilities where Risk Group 2 microorganisms are being handled. Some facilities will require both forms of signage, while some will only require one or the other. It depends on the nature of the work being undertaken. Click here for information on signage requirements for facilities handling microorganisms.